Web accessibility may sound like a buzzword, but it’s definitely worth your attention as a business owner. One in every five people has an impairment making online information difficult to access. If your site isn’t accessible, this significant percentage of potential customers might go to your competitors instead. In this blog post, we’ll delve into what web accessibility is, its impact on businesses and how you can make your site more accessible.
Table of Contents
- What is web accessibility?
- Understanding different types of disabilities
- The significance of web accessibility
- Standards of Accessibility
- Four key principles of web accessibility
- Key components of web accessibility
- The legality surrounding web accessibility
- Steps to create an accessible website
- Testing for your website’s accessibility
- Web accessibility examples
- Conclusion
What is web accessibility?
Web accessibility aims to make your website usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. It ensures your site is compatible with assistive technologies, like screen readers and offers content that can be read and heard by everyone.
Understanding different types of disabilities
Common disabilities that make web accessibility essential include:
- Cognitive disability
- Visual impairment
- Hearing impairment
- Neurological impairment
- Mobility disabilities
The significance of web accessibility
Web accessibility isn’t just a moral duty, but also a legal and business necessity. It widens your business’s reach, improves SEO and ensures compliance with legal obligations.
Standards of Accessibility
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) are the internationally recognised guidelines that define standards of web accessibility.
Four key principles of web accessibility
For a website to be accessible, it needs to be: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (POUR).
Key components of web accessibility
Web accessibility is determined by the content of the website, the tools used to create the website, the tools used to evaluate the website and user agents.
The legality surrounding web accessibility
In countries like the US and members of the EU, laws mandate websites to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Steps to create an accessible website
From using alt texts for images to consistent navigation modes, there’s a variety of things you must consider to create an accessible website.
Testing for your website’s accessibility
Tools like WAVE, DYNO Mapper, WCAG Compliance Auditor, and A11Y Color Contrast Accessibility Validator can help you test your website’s accessibility.
Web accessibility examples
The W3C’s website is a great example of a WCAG-compliant site.
Conclusion
As a business owner, ensuring your website is accessible to all potential customers is a smart move. It can improve customer loyalty, increase your business reach, and ensure legal compliance.
Tags: #webaccessibility, #WCAG, #POUR, #SEO
[Reference Link](!https://www.imaginarycloud.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-web-accessibility-for-2022/)